Vehicle frame structure



July 14, 1970 H. E. SELLERS 3,520,551

VEHICLE FRAME STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 18, 1968 1 r: 2 5 I 30\ 20M; o

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HOWARD E. SELLERS By W. 61.7%

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,520,551 VEHICLE FRAME STRUCTURE Howard E. Sellers, Syracuse, Ind., assignor to Sellers Manufacturing, Inc., Wakarusa, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Filed Jan. 18, 1968, Ser. No. 698,743 Int. Cl. B62d 21/00 US. Cl. 280106 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An outrigger structure for use with a mobile home, trailer or similar vehicle consisting of a vertically positioned, triangularly-shaped panel having a diagonally disposed rib extending inwardly and downwardly between the upper edge and the lower edge of the panel and intersecting the inner vertical edge thereof. The panel has a free lower edge and a horizontally, laterally extending flange on the upper edge.

The conventional frames for mobile homes, trailers and similar vehicles normally consist of two spaced, longitudinally positioned beam-like members extending the full length of the vehicle, cross members interconnecting the longitudinal members, and outriggers connected to the longitudinal members and extending outwardly for supporting the overhang of the vehicle body. In the past, the outriggers generally have been formed from sheet metal into a generally triangular shape tapering outwardly and being provided with upper and lower lateral flanges. This conventional type of outrigger has a number of disadvantages, including difficulty in fabrication, unadaptability to a single die for various sizes, and a tendency to yield by rolling and twisting under the weight of the vehicle body. Further, the multiple flange construction of the conventional outrigger tends to form pockets for retaining moisture, road slush and dirt which accelerate corrosion and cause damage to the outrigger and the longitudinal member to which the outrigger is attached. It is therefore one of the principal objects of the present invention to provide an outrigger structure which is relatively simple in construction and design, and which is so constructed that it can readily and easily be fabricated by a single die forming operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide strong rigid outrigger structures of the aforementioned type which can be fully formed on a single die without regard to the overall length, within the normal range of outriggers, and which requires substantially less metal to equal the conventional outrigger in strength, rigidity and durability.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an outrigger which is so constructed that it inherently adjusts itself to the load of the vehicle body to prevent sagging or distortion from the load and to concentrate the greatest strength where the load is greatest, and which will not twist or roll under normal body loads.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a mobile frame showing the present Outriggers as a part thereof;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the frame, the section being taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1, and showing the present outrigger in elevation;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the outrigger, the section being taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the present outrigger removed from the vehicle frame and showing another size of the outrigger in broken lines to illustrate the versatility of the present design;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional view of the present outrigger, the section being taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary end view of the outrigger; and

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view similar to the view shown in FIG. 3, illustrating a modified form of the present invention.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, numeral 10 designates generally a mobile home frame having longitudinal members 12 and 14 extending the full length of the trailer body (not shown). The longitudinal members are spaced from one another and are positioned inwardly from the outside edge of the vehicle body and are connected by a plurality of cross members 16 and front end member 18 and rear end member 20. The frame normally contains a member or plurality of members forming a tongue 22 for connecting the trailer to a towing vehicle by a coupling mounted on the front end 24, the members of the tongue normally being secured to the longitudinal members.

Secured to the outside of the longitudinal members are a plurality of outriggers 30, usually being mounted on the longitudinal members outwardly from the ends of the cross members 16; however, they may be spaced differently and with a greater or lesser number than the cross members. The particular structure of frame 10 will be varied from one type of vehicle to another. For example, the frames for mobile homes are usually substantially longer and usually wider than the frames for campers and travel trailers. The frame members are normally formed of sheet, plate or steel tubing, and the structural members thereof are normally welded to one another to form a rigid structure.

The present outrigger consists of a main plate 32, having a generally longitudinal rib 34 extending from near the outer end 35 of the outrigger to its base 36. The base 36 is in a vertical position and the upper edge 38 of the plate is substantially horizontal. The lower edge 40 of the plate is diagonal, extending from the bottom of the base to a point in the proximity of the upper edge; however, a small vertical edge 42 is preferably provided between the upper and lower edges. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the rib is spaced inwardly from the three edges 38, 40 and 42 at its upper end and is so positioned that it intersects base 36 regardless of the length of the outrigger. Rib 34 extends angularly downwardly with relation to the upper edge of plate 32; however, in most outrigger sizes, the rib will be positioned more nearly horizontal than lower edge 40, i.e. the relationship between the edge and rib will be a diverging angle orien' tation. Connected integrally with upper edge 38 is a laterally projecting flange 50 extending throughout the full length of the outrigger from base 36 to edge 42, this flange giving substantial rigidity to the upper edge of plate 32 and providing a structure for attaching members of the body to frame 10. While the rib preferably intersects the inner edge 36 of panel 32, it may terminate inwardly therefrom, and preferably extends substantially the full length of the panel.

In the fabrication of the present outrigger, the male and female dies for forming the structure perform the entire forming operation in a single step. In the forming operation, the plate is preferably first cut or stamped angularly along one edge and at right angles along the other edge with respect to base 36. This blank is then placed between the die sections and the die is closed. Upon completion of the operation, rib 34 and flange 50 are formed in the desired position illustrated in the drawmgs, without further forming operations being required.

The material to form the angular edge 40 may be severed from the material during the foregoing stamping operation, or it may be severed after the stamping operation has been completed; however, normally it is preferable to shape the blank before the stamping operation is performed.

One of the particular features of the invention is the angular relationship of rib 34 to angular edge 40. The rib is so placed with respect to angular edge 40 that the dies may be of various lengths and still produce an outrigger structure in which the rib runs the full length of plate 32 and intersects base 36 rather than intersecting edge 40. The same die can be used to perform the comlete operation on relatively short outriggers or on long outriggers as illustrated in FIG. 4. Normally base 36 is the same height for both long and short outriggers and only the angular position of edge 40 is changed.

The rib 34 not only strengthens panel 32, but renders the entire outrigger more rigid, and during the stamping operation, a slight upward angle of upper edge 38 is created with respect to base 36. Thus, when the outrigger is mounted on the frame in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2, the upper surface of flange 50 extends slightly upwardly and outwardly, so that, when the load of the body is placed on the outrigger, causing a slight downward deflection, the outrigger becomes substantially level rather than sagging downwardly as normally occurs when the load is placed thereon.

The outriggers fabricated in the foregoing manner are welded to the longitudinal frame members along the base at line 54 and along the inner edge of flange 56. When the outriggers are secured in the foregoing manner, they form a rigid structure with the frame and the generally L-shaped configuration of the outriggers retains them in place, both vertically and horizontally with respect to the frame members. It is seen that the outrigger, when installed in the foregoing manner, contains no lower flange or other structural member which will accumulate moisture, slush, dirt or other foreign matter which would cause rust or other damage to the outrigger or frame structure. Various thicknesses of metal may be used to form the outrigger; usually 12 to 14 gauge material is satisfactory for the normal outriggers which usually are 24 inches or less in length and seven to ten inches in height at the base. The flange 50 would normally be about two inches in width; however, this width may be varied to satisfy strength and rigidity requirements. The foregoing structural design forms a rigid structure which will not twist or roll under any normal use of the trailer and will give adequate support to the body without becoming distorted.

FIG. 7 illustrates a modified form of the present invention in which rib 34' extends outwardly from plate 32 on the side opposite flange 50'. In this embodiment as in the previous embodiment, the upper end of the rib 34 is preferably confined within plate 32 rather than intersecting the upper, lower or outer edges.

While only one embodiment and two modifications of the present invention have been described hereinabove, various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. For use with a vehicle frame structure having a longitudinal frame member: an outrigger comprising a vertical panel having a vertical inner end for attachment to the longitudinal frame member and a substantially horizontal upper edge and an inwardly and downwardly extending lower edge, a rib formed integrally with said panel and extending from a point between said upper and lower edges throughout substantially the full length to a point adjacent said inner end, and a horizontal flange connected to said upper edge and extending substantially the full length of said panel, said rib projecting laterally from the plane of said panel and said rib and said lower edge having a diverging angular relationship extending from a point near the outer end of said panel to a point near said inner end.

2. An outrigger for use with a vehicle frame structure as defined in claim 1 in which said rib intersects said vertical inner end.

3. An outrigger for use with a vehicle frame structure as defined in claim 1 in which said rib is spaced inwardly from the outer end of said panel.

4. An outrigger for use with a vehicle frame structure as defined in claim 1 in which the said upper edge extends slightly upwardly and outwardly from the upper end of said vertical edge.

5. An outrigger for use with a vehicle frame structure as defined in claim 1 in which the pannel has a free lower edge throughout substantially the full length thereof.

6. An outrigger for use with a vehicle frame structure as defined in claim 1 in which said rib extends inwardly from the plane of said panel in the direction of said horizontal flange.

7. An outrigger for use with a vehicle frame structure as defined in claim 1 in which said rib extends outwardly from the plane of said panel in the direction of said horizontal flange.

8. An outrigger for use with a vehicle frame structure as defined in claim 1 in which said rib extends inwardly from the plane of said panel in the direction of said horizontal flange.

9. An outrigger for use with a vehicle frame structure as defined in claim 1 in which said rib extends outwardly from the plane of said panel in the direction of said horizontal flange.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,880,013 3/1959 Dean 280-106 2,292,646 8/1942 McIntosh 280106 3,042,423 7/1962 Bock 280l06 PHILIP GOODMAN, Primary Examiner 

